Eco-organic farming in Estonia: institutions, supply, environmental public goods and integrated sustainable development planning in rural areas Ahto Oja IDARI PHD student ESTONIA

CONTENT INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 1. SUPPLY 2. EXTERNAL PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS 3. INSTITUTIONS OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES

ESTONIA TOTAL POPULATION 1,4 MILLION, ONE THIRD RUSSIAN SPEAKING, CAPITAL - TALLINN

Introduction Total area of Estonia ~ ha Total area of Estonia ~ ha Agricultural land ~ 1 million hectar Agricultural land ~ 1 million hectar Organically farmed ha in 2002 Organically farmed ha in 2002 The growth 7,5 times during last 4 years The growth 7,5 times during last 4 years The number of eco-organic farmers has increased from 89 to 583 from 1999 to 2002 in Estonia The number of eco-organic farmers has increased from 89 to 583 from 1999 to 2002 in Estonia 2/3 out of 583 have cattle, but only 136 have certificate to sell organic meat 2/3 out of 583 have cattle, but only 136 have certificate to sell organic meat

Land use types of Estonian organic farms in 2002 (modified from Ader, 2003) expressed in hectares and as a percentage of total area under organic production in Estonia. Land use typeArea of the land use, ha% from total organic farming land use Annual and perennial grass Cereal and legumen Natural grassland Fallow ploughed in autumn Orchard, berries patch and nursery garden Potatoes Green manure plants Vegetables, technical crops, Not in use land Total

Supply Demand for organic products has increased Demand for organic products has increased new opportunities to export organic produce new opportunities to export organic produce The area of land cultivated organically will rise in the near future in Estonia, The area of land cultivated organically will rise in the near future in Estonia, Economic aspects (effectiveness, competitiveness) are not investigated in Estonian context Economic aspects (effectiveness, competitiveness) are not investigated in Estonian context

Eco-organic agriculture and external effects External benefits and costs associated with eco-organic farming External benefits and costs associated with eco-organic farming recreation benefits recreation benefits ecological functions: ecological functions: landscape landscape nutrient leaching nutrient leaching soil erosion soil erosion

Eco-organic farming institutions The Law on Organic Farming The Law on Organic Farming Estonian Organic Farming Database Estonian Organic Farming Database Estonian Foundation for Organic Farming Estonian Foundation for Organic Farming Association of the Organic Producers of Estonia Association of the Organic Producers of Estonia Informal: Informal: Traditional farming methods Traditional farming methods

OBJECTIVES Supply Determine the economic viability of eco- organic production Determine the economic viability of eco- organic production Estimate the opportunity costs of developing the sector Estimate the opportunity costs of developing the sector Evaluate the willingness of land managers to supply eco-organic products; Evaluate the willingness of land managers to supply eco-organic products;

OBJECTIVES Eco-organic agriculture and external effects Evaluate and quantify the supply of non-market environmental goods and services Evaluate and quantify the supply of non-market environmental goods and services The cost of non-market environmental benefits The cost of non-market environmental benefits Measure the public demand and preferences for non-market environmental goods and services Measure the public demand and preferences for non-market environmental goods and services

OBJECTIVES Eco-organic farming institutions Establish the attitudes to eco-organic production Establish the attitudes to eco-organic production Assess the compliance of Estonian traditional farming methods with eco- organic farming certified requirements Assess the compliance of Estonian traditional farming methods with eco- organic farming certified requirements Ascertain the formal and informal obstacles Ascertain the formal and informal obstacles Find out the impact of EU and governmental support mechanisms Find out the impact of EU and governmental support mechanisms Propose policy initiatives Propose policy initiatives

OBJECTIVES Eco-organic farming institutions Analyse the policy integration Analyse the policy integration Assess the level of participation Assess the level of participation

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

The average size and number of eco-organic farms in Estonia at the end of 2002 (modified from Ader 2003). Area of land cultivated according to the principles of organic farming, ha Number of farms % from total number of organic farms < > Total